Customer Rating: 
Summary: Pretty nice
Comment: Overall the Philips is a great unit. The only complaints that I have are that it wont read my remote for my A/V control center made by joytech and it also will not function with the XBOX 360. The other issue that I have had with it is that it doesn't always keep connection with my home network. It kind of chooses when it wants to work so to speak. Other than that all of the other functions do very well and its a great remote.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I'd rather keep my old remotes
Comment: Using a universal remote should make things easier, not harder. I didn't find the Philips RC9800i useful at all. Ergonimically, it was impossible to use with one hand. To top that off, you needed to use the stylus for most activities since buttons on the screen were somewhat small (oh, and there's no holder for the stylus... so very easy to lose track of). Controls are not intuitive and setting it up right, while not incredibly hard, does not lead to an easy interface.
I'd suggest looking at Harmony remotes over this. It's just too 'clunky.'
Customer Rating:
Summary: The RC9800I will not even control its own products
Comment: I got the remote on Dec 7th and it ships back to where I bought it on December 11th.
It will not control their own DVD player (DVD 5140)
it will not turn off devices after they are used when you switch to something else.
I have had most of the remotes costing over 500.00 and am a pro installer and remote programmer.
I promise you, you will not like this remote. I have no clue how and why Philips thought they could bring this remote to market as they have.
What a waste.
Remember also that you have to use 2 hands to operate this remote, not like the 700, 900 960 from universal. may sound strange but 2 handed operation is cumbersome, but must be expected with a touch screen.
disclamer: use at your own risk. this is fair warning
Customer Rating:
Summary: Could be so good
Comment: This could be such a cool piece of kit. It's running linux, supports wi-fi & has a touch screen but, it's let down by the current firmware and seems unloved by Philips (they can't decide whether this is supported by their Pronto group or more generic support, and don't seem to have much support info on their web site).
I purchased one a couple of weeks back, it was easy to set up initially, but wouldn't talk to my xbox360 and couldn't work out how to change inputs (as part of an activity) on my, wait for it, *Philips* LCD TV. Basic control was possible, but activities (like "watch a DVD") would never completely work.
After a couple of calls to tech support (voice activated and useless if you have an English accent by the way) they stated that it wasn't going to work and advised me to return it and upgrade to a Pronto.
I upgraded alright, to a Harmony.
What a shame. Philips, if this is the runt of your family, do us all a favour and open source the whole firmware. Imagine the possibilities of a ~$200 wi-fi enabled portable linux box!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Almost...
Comment: I am on an eternal quest for the perfect family oriented universal remote. I bought the RC9800i hoping it would be that. Not quite. I works perfectly, does exactly what it is made to do, but still a little confusing for my wife and a little too odd shaped for me. And, there is no place for the stylus on the remote...who the heck engineered that??
Summary: Pretty nice
Comment: Overall the Philips is a great unit. The only complaints that I have are that it wont read my remote for my A/V control center made by joytech and it also will not function with the XBOX 360. The other issue that I have had with it is that it doesn't always keep connection with my home network. It kind of chooses when it wants to work so to speak. Other than that all of the other functions do very well and its a great remote.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I'd rather keep my old remotes
Comment: Using a universal remote should make things easier, not harder. I didn't find the Philips RC9800i useful at all. Ergonimically, it was impossible to use with one hand. To top that off, you needed to use the stylus for most activities since buttons on the screen were somewhat small (oh, and there's no holder for the stylus... so very easy to lose track of). Controls are not intuitive and setting it up right, while not incredibly hard, does not lead to an easy interface.
I'd suggest looking at Harmony remotes over this. It's just too 'clunky.'
Customer Rating:
Summary: The RC9800I will not even control its own products
Comment: I got the remote on Dec 7th and it ships back to where I bought it on December 11th.
It will not control their own DVD player (DVD 5140)
it will not turn off devices after they are used when you switch to something else.
I have had most of the remotes costing over 500.00 and am a pro installer and remote programmer.
I promise you, you will not like this remote. I have no clue how and why Philips thought they could bring this remote to market as they have.
What a waste.
Remember also that you have to use 2 hands to operate this remote, not like the 700, 900 960 from universal. may sound strange but 2 handed operation is cumbersome, but must be expected with a touch screen.
disclamer: use at your own risk. this is fair warning
Customer Rating:
Summary: Could be so good
Comment: This could be such a cool piece of kit. It's running linux, supports wi-fi & has a touch screen but, it's let down by the current firmware and seems unloved by Philips (they can't decide whether this is supported by their Pronto group or more generic support, and don't seem to have much support info on their web site).
I purchased one a couple of weeks back, it was easy to set up initially, but wouldn't talk to my xbox360 and couldn't work out how to change inputs (as part of an activity) on my, wait for it, *Philips* LCD TV. Basic control was possible, but activities (like "watch a DVD") would never completely work.
After a couple of calls to tech support (voice activated and useless if you have an English accent by the way) they stated that it wasn't going to work and advised me to return it and upgrade to a Pronto.
I upgraded alright, to a Harmony.
What a shame. Philips, if this is the runt of your family, do us all a favour and open source the whole firmware. Imagine the possibilities of a ~$200 wi-fi enabled portable linux box!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Almost...
Comment: I am on an eternal quest for the perfect family oriented universal remote. I bought the RC9800i hoping it would be that. Not quite. I works perfectly, does exactly what it is made to do, but still a little confusing for my wife and a little too odd shaped for me. And, there is no place for the stylus on the remote...who the heck engineered that??